Friday, September 14, 2012

OR - Former Deputy (Joshua Andrew Bryant) Faces New Sex Charges

A former Klamath County Sheriff's Deputy faces new charges of rape and sexual abuse...this after pleading guilty to reduced charges in connection with sex crimes last March.

While Josh Bryant faces new Measure 11 charges, Bryant was released on his own recognizance.

41 year old Joshua Andrew Bryant, a former deputy, was booked Wednesday on three counts of first degree rape, and two counts of second degree sexual abuse...and then released on his own recognizance.

This is not his first brush with such charges.

Bryant was arrested in Curry County in June of last year for having sex with two female victims after allegedly slipping drugs into their drinks.

Bryant pled 'guilty' in March to reduced charges of coercion, and harassment - both misdemeanors - and was sentenced to 105 days in jail.

Klamath County District Attorney Ed Caleb notes that Bryant now faces new charges...

"A couple days ago he was in custody, to be fingerprinted and stuff on new charges brought by the Department of Justice."

D.A. Caleb says he didn't have a voice in Bryants release either the first time, or this time...

"I can tell you, it had nothing to do with our office. That was a judicial decision made, I don't know if it was made out of the A.G.'s office or not - but it wouldn't have been made with our office."

The new charges involve two different women from Klamath County, with one victim claiming to have been raped in 2009, and the other in 2010.

"He's got several cases I think that are still open around the state." Noted D.A. Ed Caleb. "And this is just another one that the A.G.'s office has decided that they can, they think they can get a conviction on."

The Oregon Attorney General's office has not been available for comment on the new charges, or if there may be victims in other counties.

Since the Klamath County District Attorney's office has prosecuted cases resulting from Bryant's time as a deputy, District Attorney Caleb says his office is not prosecuting Bryant due to the possible conflict of interest.